Swimming Safety Tips

KYW Medical Reports Sponsored By Independence Blue Cross

By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – This is the perfect time of the year to get out and find a place to swim. But a trip to the old swimming hole could be problematic-potentially.  Recreational water illness is the term we use for kids getting infections from exposure to contaminated water.

So, how do you protect the kids?  There is one big tip! Teach your kids to swim with their mouths closed.  If they swallow water, they have the potential to take in germs.  Chlorine does kill germs, but not fast enough to account for babies in diapers who might be in the pool at the same time.

If you're not swimming in a pool, be aware of another concern; problems after a storm.  That's because after a storm, there's plenty of runoff from lawns and farms that can enter rivers and lakes, even the ocean.  You need to use common sense and be very careful.  Remember, you need to tell the kids not to open their mouths when they're swimming.